Line justifier for typewriting machines



Dec. 3, 1940. L. E. PoTTER 2,223,529

LINE JUSTIFIER FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES TT'OR NEY Dec. 3, 1940. L E. IY=-QTTERl LINEJUST-IFIER FVOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed oct. 4, 19:59 z. sheets-snaai 2 We B A ATTCRNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT .oFF-ICE LINE JUs'rrFmn Fon-TYPEWRITING MACHINES Linn Edward Potter;y L. lC. Smith & Syracuse,

Application October 4,

9 Claims.

Important objects of the present invention are to provide, for typewriting and like machines having a traveling carriage, improved line-justifying means of simple and inexpensive construction and designed for convenient manipulation and satisfactory operation; and morespeciflcally, to provide Vfor such machines, an improved escapement .rack means adjustable to vary the letter-spacing movement of the traveling carriagein a desired manner for line-justifying.

To these ends, and to other ends which will appear from the following description in detail of a preferred embodiment' of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention consists in the combination of devices, features of construction and arrangements of parts pointed out in the appended claims and set forth inthe following description.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vtop plan view of a rear portion of a typewriting machine equipped with the improved escapement'rack means,` parts of the machine being in section, and parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a. fore-and-aft vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and upon an'enlargedscale; Fig. 3 is a rear View of the escapementv rack means and associated elements of the machine, with parts in section and parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a group view of Vthe adjustable rack sections in elevation and out of their mounting, one of said rack sections being shown in operative position between the xed rack sections;

and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively, of Fig. 3.

In the drawings the invention is shown embodied in a known typewriting machine, namely an L. C. Smith typewriting machine.A There-is shown only so much of this machine as isnecessary to illustrate the invention in its embodiment therein.l l

A carriage I0 bearing .a platen II is supported by bearings I2 upon a main frame I3 for move-` ment transversely. of the frame.

said movement there is an escapement mechani'sm including a toothed escapement wheel I4,

a carriage feed pinion I5 rotatable with said wheel and meshing with the escapement rack means, andy a stepping dog I6 and a holding dog I1 alternately engageable with the escapement wheel to control step-by-step rotation of the latter in the usual manner. The escapement whee By spring means, not shown, the carriage is impelled intov left, with reference to Fig.- 1. For control of' Syracuse, N. Y., assgnor to Corona Typewriters, Inc., N. Y., a corporation of New York 1939. serial No. 297,822

(c1. 1er-s4) and feed pinion are axed to a shaft I8 rotatably supported in a bearing I9 borne by a fixed member I3a of the main frame I3. Dogs I6 and I'I are borne by a rocker 20 pivotally supported upon the4 frame member |39'. Upon op- 5 eration of a character key, and upon operation of a space bar of the machine the dog rocker is operated', by means not shown, to shift the dogs for initiation of a tooth vspace rotation of the escapement wheel and upon release of the 10 key or space bar the rocker is operated to shift the dogs to permit completion ofsaid tooth-space vrotation of the escapement wheel, in the usual manner.

The improved escapement rack means with l5 which the carriage. feed pinion I5 meshes is provided with an adjustment feature to vary the extent of a number of step-by-step movements of the carriage, for the purpose of justifying lines. lSaid rack means includes rack sections secured 20 to the carriage in xed positions anda series of complementary rack sections mounted upon the carriage for adjustment selectively into alinement with the xed sections to provide for typing either justied lines or for unjustied. typing.

There are two of the said xed rack sections designated 2| and 22. Each comprises a straight bar formed of flat metal stock and having along Aone edge a series of rack teeth 23. The pitch of the teeth upon bothbars is the same and is onesemployed for ordinary letter spacing. There may, for example, be ten of the teeth per inch. Said rack sections are of equal length and their combined length is materially less than the required total rack length. They are mounted upon the carriage in longitudinal alinement and in a spaced relation. The space between their opposed ends may, for instance, be three. inches. For supporting said rack sections the carriage is provided with four rearwardly extending rigid bracket arms 24, 25, 26 and 21 spaced along the length of the carriage. These arms may be cast with a longitudinal rear member I0 of the carria'ge. Near its outer end`each bracket arm is formed 'at its under side with a slot 28. These 45 slots lnall of the arms aline horizontally along the carriage. Rack bar 2l has its opposite end portions tted in the slots of the bracket arms 24 and 25 and rack barr22 has its opposite end portions tted in the slots of the'bracket arms 50 26 and 21. The opposed inner faces of the bracketarms 25 and 2B are vertical and are spaced apart a distance equal to the aforesaid desired space between the opposed ends of the rackV sections. Said opposed ends are disposedI ush 55 with the said opposed surfaces of the bracket arms 25 and 26. The rack bars are rigidly securediri any suitable manner as by soldering, for example, in the slots in which they-are fitted. The teeth of the bars project downward- 1y from the supporting bracket arms for free meshing with the carriage feed pinion I5.

-yond the bracket arm 21 and adjacent to the right hand end of the carriage, with reference to Fig. 1. Between the bracket arms 25 and 26 there is mounted upon the shaft a carrier for the adjustable rack sections. The carrier comprises a cylindrical metal sleeve 3| whose axial bore receives and ts the shaft. A set screw 32 borne by the sleeve serves to lock it to the shaft for rotation therewith. At points equallyA spaced'around its periphery the sleeve is formed with a seriesof radially disposed slots 33 all of thesame dimensions and all extending the entire length of the sleeve, parallel to the shaft axis. In the present instance there are six of these slots.` The sleeve is of such length that it fits between the bracket ams 25 and 26, with just suflicient working clearance for rotation of the sleeve. The radius of the sleeve is less than the distance between the shaft axis and the roots of the teeth 23 on the xed rack bars. The adjustable rack sections are fitted in the slots 33 and rigidly secured by soldering, or

otherwise. A knob 29a is aiiixed to the outer end of shaft 29 for manually turning the shaft and sleeve 3| and revolvably adjusting the rack sections borne by thesleeve.

There are six of the adjustable rack sections designated 34, 35, 36, 31, 38 and'3il.l Each comprises a straight bar of flat metal stock formed with teeth along one edge. All of said bars are of the same length as the rotor or sleeve 3|, say three inches, and their width is so related to the depth of thev sleeve slots 33 in which they are fitted thatA the crests of the teethare the same radial distance from the axis of the shaft 29 as the crests of the fixed series of teeth 23. There;

fore, by rotation of the shaft any one of the rack -sections on the rotary carrier may -be adjusted into an operative position between the xed rack sections 'and in accurate longitudinal alinement therewith. Any one of the adjustable rack sec-- tions so adjusted bridges the gap between the fixed rack sections, and the teeth on the fixed and adjustable rack bar sections are so arranged that the iixed bar sections and the bar'section adjusted therebetween will together form a continuous rack.

The teeth 23a of adjustable rack section- 34 have' a normal pitch corresponding to that of the teeth 23 on the fixed rack bar sections 2| and 22. Assuming thatvsuch pitch provides for^ ten teeth vto the inch the section 34, being three inches in length, will have thirty teeth. When this rack section is in operative position it, in combination with rack sections 2| and 22, forms arack with teeth of a normal uniform pitch throughout, for normal letter-spacing advance of the carriage in typing. Rack sections 35 to 39 inclusive are line- ?i justifying rack sections. The pitch of the teeth 4,0 of each diiers from the pitch of the vteeth on all of the other rackl sections on the rotary carrier. In the present instance rack section 35 has twenty-nine teeth, section 36 has twentyeight teeth, section 31 has twenty-seven teeth, section 38 has twenty-six teeth and section 39 has twenty-live teeth. The tooth pitch is uniform along each section and progressively increases from section 34 to section 39. It will be understood, however, thatthe tooth pitch on the successive rack sections may, instead, progressively decrease from the normal pitch. In either case it will be understood also that the rack teeth and those of the feed pinion |5 will aiord suicient clearance to accommodate the pitch variations. The ordinary escapement means will accommodate such variation.

As previously mentioned, the knob 29L is turned tov bring any desired one of the adjustable rack sections into-alinement with the fixed sections 2| and 22. Means are provided to indicate which rack section has been so adjusted; Upon the bracket arm 21 there is a fixed index mark 4|. Upon the periphery of knob 29El there is aV series of six equally spaced designations: N 1, 2, 3, 4. and 5. The location of the mark 4| and the arrangement of said designations are so related to the arrangement of the adjustable.

rack sections around the shaft axis that when the N mark registers with the fixed mark 4| the normal-pitch rack section 34 will be in operative position, when mark 1 is in' register section 35 will be in operative position, when mark 2 is in register section 36 will be in operativel .l and has a rounded locking end. A spring 44' within the bore urges the plunger outward toward said face of the knob, and said face has six rounded keeper cavities 45 equally spaced around theA axis of shaft 29 and disposed to receive the rounded end of the plunger as the knob is turned.

said cavities around the shaft axis is such with relation to the arrangement of the adjustable rack sections that when any one of the latter has been adjusted to operative position one of the cavities will be in position for the plunger to snap into it. Exertion of twisting force upon the knob will cause the plungerto be cammed back to release position to permit changing of the rack adjustment.

,'In the employment of the invention for linejustifying, lines may iirst be typed with the'normal-pitch rack section 34 in operative position' lbetween the fixed rack sections 2| and 22. Then,

choosing the longest line typed as a pattern, the other lines may be evened with it as follows: If a line is found to be one letter space short the knob 29a is turned to adjust the racksection 35 into operative position. This rack action will so control the carriage advance as to add one letter space to the length of the line in retypingit. Y If a line be two letter spaces short the knob is turned to adjust rack section` 36 into operative position. Section 36 will control the carriage advance to add two letter spaces to the length of the retyped line.- Similarly, -adjustment of rack sections 31. 38 o'r 39 will add three, four or live -The arrangement of the locking plunger and letter spaces respectively to a retyped line. The structure disclosed provides for lline justifying during a\ medial portion. of the carriage travel. That is desirable for the reason that, the variation in letter spacing is less noticeable at themiddle of a line than at the ends. Another advan-y tage is that it enables the employment of xedl rack sections to hold the carriage stationary at or near either of its limits of travel while the intermediate rack seetionsare being adjusted relatively to the fixed sections.

It will be seen vthat the invention provides av line-justifying device which is extremely simple and easy to manipulate and designed for entirely satisfactory service. The device requires a minimum of change in standard typewriter construction and it-is designed for very inexpensive manufacture. The rack sections 2|, 22 and 34 to 39 inclusive -can all be made inexpensively from standard stock of the same width and thickness, and the shaft 29, sleeve 3l, knob 29 and the locking means are all designed for easy and inexpensivev manufacture and easy assembly.

f What I claim is:

1. A typewritingor like machine having a main frame, a carriage mounted to travel on the frame, anda carriage letter-spacing feed con-v trol rack mounted to travel with the/carriage, wherein for line justification the rack comprises a rack bar section of flat bar stock having a row of rack teeth of constant pitch along o ne longitudinal edge thereof and a plurality of additional rack bar sections of flat bar stock each having a row of rack teeth of constant pitch along one longitudinal edge thereof, the tooth pitch of one of said additional rack bar sections corresponding with that of the first-mentioned section and the tooth p'tch of` each of the others of said additional rack bar sections being different from that of the remainder thereof, and

means are provided for supporting said pluralityyv of additional rack bar sections for selective shifting of different ones thereof into operative lonand any one ofgitudinalv alinement with said rst-mentioned rack bar section to form therewith a longer continuous rack.

2. A typewriting or like machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said plurality of additional rack bar sections are mounted in circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots in `a rotary carrier which is supported on the carriage for vrotation about a longitudinal axis extending paral-V lel to thepath of travel of the carriage and longitudinally of and parallel to the said first-mene tioned rack section. l

3. In a typewriting or like machine having a carriage traveling on a frame, and escapement means, escapement rack means borne by the carriage to cooperate withl said escapement means to control travel of the carriage and' comprising a pair of thin bar rack sections each having teeth along one longitudinal edge and secured to the carriage in a xed position longitudinally spaced and longitudinally aligned, said rack sections having teeth of the same pitch on both sections, a rotor mounted upon the carriage and extending along the space between said rack sections and having means at one end of the carriage for. rotating it, bearings for said rotor mounted on the carriage, and a series` of intermediate thin bar rack sections each rigidly secured to and extending lengthwise of said rotor, all of said series of racks being of the same thickness as the xed rack sections with the teeth thereof radially disposed to align with the end teeth of the fixed teeth of said ilrst rack sections and each of they others having teeth of a pitch diierent from that of the teeth of said rst sections and different from the pitch of the teeth intermediate rack sections, .for line justifying, and any one of said intermediate sections being adjustable, -by rotation of said rotor, into an operative .position between and in longitudinal alignment with the ends of said fixed sections to place the vend teeth'thereof in matching relation to the end teeth of the said fixed sections to form therewith a continuous thin bar rack.

` 4. In'a typewriting or like machine having a carriage traveling on a frame, and escapement means, escapement rack means borne by the carof the remaining' extending along the space between said rack sections and along one of said rack sections to a point adjacent one end of the carriage and at said point having a knob for rotating it, bearings for said shaft mounted on the carriage, a. sleeve affixed' to the portion of the shaft extending along said space between said pair of rack sections, means t`o' hold said sleeve against longitudinal shifting'with respect to the fixed rack sections,A said sleeve being formed with a series of longitudinal' slots spaced around its periphery, and a series of intermediate thin bar rack sections each rigidly secured in one of said slots and extending lengthwise of said shaft, all of said series of racks being 'of the same thickness as the fixed rack 'sections with the teeth to align with the teeth of the iixed rack sections upon rotation of the rotor, for line justifying, said intermediate sections being adjustable, by rotation bf said shaft, into an operative position between and in longitudinal alignment with the ends of said fixed sections to place the end teeth thereof in matching relation to the end teeth of the said fixedsections longitudinal edge and secured to the carriage in a iixed position and extending inwardly from one side of the carriage, a rotor mounted on the carriage adjacent the inner end of -said fixed'rack section for rotation about an axis extending along said fixed section, rigid bearings for said rotor mounted on the carriage, means to' hold the rotor against longitudinal shifting with respecttothe fixed rack section, and a`series of complementary thin bar rack sections rigid with said rotor an`d spaced around the periphery thereof, and all of said complementary racks being" of thesame thickness as the xed rack section with the teeth thereof radially disposed to align with the teeth of the fixed rack section upon rotation of the rotor, and any one of the complementary l sections being adjustable, by rotation of said ro- 40 thereof radially disposed la thin barrack section having teeth along one.

end of the adjusted complementary rack flush with the adjacent inner end of the fixed rack to form therewith a continuous thin bar.

6. In a typewriting or like machine having a carriage traveling on a frame, and escapement Asaid fixed rack section'for rotation about an.

axis extending along said xed section, bearings for said rotor mounted on the carriage one of said bearings being located at the inner` end of the fixed rack section and forming a rigid abutment to hold the rotor against longitudinal shifting in one direction with respect to the xed rack section, the inner end of said fixed rack section extending across the said adjacent rigid abutment andrigidly secured thereto with its teeth projecting beyond the surface of said abutment and with the inner end of said rack section flush with the inner surface of `said abutment, and a series of complementary thin bar rack sections rigid with said rotor and spaced around the periphery thereof, one end of each of said complementary rack. sections being flush with the inner surface of said rigid bearing abutment and all of said complementary racks being of the same thickness as the fixed rack section with the teeth thereof radially disposed to align with the teeth ofthe xed rack section upon rotation of the rotor, and any one of the complementary sections being adjustable, by rotation of said rotor, into an operative position in longitudinal alignment with said fixed rack section with one end -of the adjusted complementary rack flush. with the adjacent end of the iixedrack to form therewith a continuous thin bar rack.

7. In a typewriting or like machine having a carriage traveling on a frame, and escapement means, escapement rack means borne by the carriage to cooperate with said escapement means to control travel of the carriage and comprising a thinebar rack section having teeth along one longitudinal edge and secured inga fixed position and extending inwardly from one side of the carriage, a rotor mounted on the carriage adjacent the inner end of-said fixed rack section for rotation about anaxis extending along said vfixed section, bearings for said rotor mounted onethe carriage one ofl said bearings being located at 'the 'inner end ofthe fixed rack section and forming a rigid abutment, the inner end of said fixed rack section extending across the said adjacent rigid abutment and rigidly secured thereto with its teeth projecting beyond the surface of said abutment and with the inner end of said rack section ush with the inner surface of` said abutment, and a series of comple mentary thin bar rack v.sections rigid with said rotor and spaced around theA periphery thereof, all of said complementary racks being of the same thickness as the fixed rack section with the ,teeth 'thereof radially disposed to align with the teeth of the iixed rack section upon rotation vof the rotor, and all of said complementary rack sections being so arranged that one end will be flush with the vinner end of the fixed rack section when aligned therewith, and any one of the complementary sections being adjustable. Ivy

rotation of said rotor, into an operative position in longitudinal alignment with said fixed rack sectionwith onel end of the adjusted complementary rack Hush with the adjacent end of the fixed rack to form therewith a continuous thin bar rack.

8. In a typewriting or like machine having acarriage traveling on a frame, and escapement means, escapement rack means borne by the carriage tov cooperate with said escapement means for controlling travel of the carriage and comprisingv a pair of thin flat rack bar sections i rigidly secured to the carriage in constant longitudinal alinement and spaced-apart longitudi nally and having teeth of the saine pitch, and l a plurality of intermediate thin flat rack bar sections of the samethickness as said pair of racks, including a section having teeth of the same pitch as the teeth of said first rack sections and a line-justifying rack section having teeth of a different pitch, and a mounting for said intermediate rack sections supporting them on the carriage for revolving relatively to said rst sections for adjustment of one or the other of' said intermediate sections selectively intoan 2;

operative lposition between and in longitudinal alinement with said first sections to form there- -with a thin flat continuous rack of uniform thickness.

9. In a typewriting or like machine having a carriage traveling on a frame, and4 escapement means, escapement rack means borne by the carriage to cooperate with said escapement means to control travel ofthe carriage and comprising a pair of thin bar rack sections each having teeth along one longitudinal edge andsecured to the carriage in a fixed position longitudinally spaced and longitudinally aligned, said rack sections havingv teeth of the same pitch on both sections, a shaft rotatably mounted upon 4 the carriage and extending along the space be tween said rack sections and along one of said rack sections to a point adjacent one end of the carriage and at said point having a knob for rotating lit, rigid bearings for said shaft 4.

mounted on the carriage at theinner ends of the fixed pair of rack sections, the inner ends of said pair of rack sections being secured to and extending across said bearings and terminating flush with the inner/surfaces of said bearings, '54) a sleeve afiixed to the portion of the shaft extending along said space between said bearings and said pair of rack sections, and having its ends abutting the inner sides of said bearings to hold said sleeve against longitudinal 5- shifting with respect to the xed rack sections, said sleeve being formed with a series of longitudinal slots spaced around its periphery, and a series of' intermediate thin bar rack sections each rigidly secured in one of said slots and extending lengthwise of said shaft with its ends flush with the inner sides of said bearings, all of said series of racks bein'g of the same thickness as the xed rack sections with the teeth thereof radially disposed to align with the teeth ofthe fixed rack sections upon rotation of the rotor,y for line justifying, and 4any one of said intermediate sections being adjustable, by rotation of said shaft, into an operative position between and in longitudinal alignment with the ends of said fixed section to place the end teeth thereof in matching relation to the end teeth of the said xed sections to form therewith a continuous thin bar rack.

LINN EDWARD POTTER. 7 

